Best Binoculars for Safari Holidays

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Ok, so it is no secret that the African bush, it's wildlife and the people are very close to my heart. I used to and still do on occasions work as a Safari Guide or as it is known in South Africa as a Field Guide. This is where my interest and need for a good pair of binoculars for safari came from.

I would say that binoculars are one of the most important, if not the most important tools that a safari guide should have with them at all times. So it only goes to reason that if a good pair of binoculars are important to a professional who works in the bush, then they will also be important to you if you are planning on getting the most out of you safari holiday. Now I am not suggesting that you purchase the most expensive binoculars that you can find, far from it in fact, as a guest on a safari experience, your needs will be slightly different to that of a full time person working in that environment.

Best Binoculars for Safari?
So just why are binoculars so important to the enjoyment of your safari holiday? If this exciting holiday is going to be your first Safari experience then it is important to manage your expectations, the bush is not a zoo and for the most part you are not going to be sitting right next to the animal that you are viewing. Sure there will be times, if you are lucky enough to have a herd of elephants surround your 4x4 safari vehicle or come up right close to a pride of lions sheltering in the shade of a tree from the midday heat. But it is for all the other times where you guide may spot a leopard on the rocks in the distance or some giraffe on a far away plain.

Bird Watching Binoculars
Then there are the birds, Africa has some of the most interesting and diverse birds found anywhere in the world and any keen birder will tell you that a pair of binoculars is essential for bird spotting. You may think "I'm not going all the way to Africa to see birds!" Believe me I have heard that one before, but if you give them a chance birds are every bit as interesting as the big 5 on Safari. Who knows, you may even get to see vultures feeding on the leftovers of a wild dog hunt, or a Snake Eagle swoop down to catch it's prey. Wouldn't it be a shame to miss out on that because you either don't have a pair of binoculars, or if the ones you do have are not up to the task?

Binoculars and the Big Game
I use my binoculars even when I am sitting watching a Rhino only 10 meters away, sure it is one of Africa's largest mammals and I can see it perfectly well with my eyes, but there is so much more to see. If it is a White Rhino, notice how square it's lips are, perfect for "hoovering" up it's staple food of grass. If it is a Black Rhino, look closely at it's pointed lips, perfect for reaching in amongst the branchlets of small bushes to find the sweetest shoots. Binoculars take you that one step further, from just seeing the animal, to observing their behavior. It will transform your safari holiday experience!

What makes a good Binocular for Safari?
Ok so, if you are still reading, I presume you now know that binoculars are very important for you safari holiday, but not just any binocular, what makes a good binocular for your safari? A good safari binocular will have many of the same features as good birding binoculars, hunting binoculars and military binoculars.

Good Safari Binoculars need to be:

Tough: Even though the safari vehicles are pretty comfortable these days, you are sure to drop them at some time during your holiday, remember you are also going to be traveling and so a flimsy pair will only end up getting broken at some time. (importance 7/10)

Not too expensive: Remember you are traveling to Africa, now to be honest I sometimes feel more scared of being pick pocketed in London than I do walking around many cities in Africa and when you get to the game reserve and your lodge you will be completely safe. But as a tourist anywhere in the world you immediately become some sort of a target and it is best to only travel with "what you can afford to loose" This also rings true if you were to leave your binoculars somewhere on your travels, which often happens or if they were to get broken with your luggage etc. Not too expensive is a relative factor, what may not be too expensive for someone could be an absolute fortune for others and so it is for you to decide your budget. I will stress that the cheapest binoculars out there have very poor quality lenses when compared to the established quality brands. (importance 5/10)

Compact Binoculars: Unless you want to struggle around with tons of luggage everywhere it only makes sense that the pair that you are planning to travel with are compact small binoculars. Also very important if you are planning on going on a walking safari, compact binoculars are way less annoying than lugging around a huge pair especially if you want to carry your camera with you as well. (importance 7/10)

Good Magnification: You want to get right up and personal with what ever you are looking at so a good pair of "zoom binoculars" is important, for me around 10x is ideal and definitely not less than 8x. (importance 7/10)

Decent Size of Exit Pupil: Most of your game viewing will probably occur in decent light conditions, although having said that I have sat until after the sun set, watching a lioness about 100 meters away inch closer to a heartebeest. I was definitely glad that my binoculars not only had a good zoom (magnification) but also a large enough exit pupil factor (the amount of light that enters the binocular and exit into your eyes). I would aim for a value of over 2.5 (importance 6/10)

Waterproof Binoculars: This can be important especially if you are traveling in the rainy season (yes it does rain in Africa!) Safari vehicles are not the most waterproof vehicles out there and sometimes some of the best game viewing experiences can happen when it is raining. On one occasion I sat with some hardy guest watching a cheetah shelter from the rain under a tree. Waterproof binoculars for safari are preferable, but not essential. (importance 4/10)

Image Stabilization: I have recently added the attribute of Image Stabilization Binoculars to the list of what makes a good binocular for Safari. I would not say that it is essential that your binoculars have image stabilisation, far from it as any safari guide worth his salt will stop the safari vehicle and turn of the engine when you arrive at a wildlife sighting, but I guess they would come in handy for those fleeting glances of animals whilst you are on the move, so I would say this feature is nice to have but not absolutely necessary. If you are looking for Image Stabilization binoculars, for me Canon Binoculars are probably your best bet (importance 2/10)

Below are some binoculars that I recommend that you take on your next safari:

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